Can a pandemic occur and if it does can it be prevented?
No one knows with certainty.
The only guaranteed way would be to eliminate virus from the bird population globally –
a task that is unachievable in the near future.
Thus, being proactive is perhaps the best strategy.
It is critical to develop:
-A complete and comprehensive understanding of the past pandemics
-A through preparedness plan
-An excellent surveillance and logistical capacity
Strategies:
-To enforce movement restrictions in and out of the affected area
-For quarantine
-Culling
-Disinfection
-To increase the likelihood that early intervention using the WHO rapid-intervention stockpile of antiviral drugs will be successful (currently WHO has antiviral medications, sufficient for 3 million treatment courses) These drugs could be used prophylactically near the start of a pandemic to reduce the risk that a fully transmissible virus will emerge or at least to delay its international spread, thus gaining time to augment vaccine supplies.
-Vaccine development
-Global coordination
-Mass education